Management & Operations

METRO Briefs

Congress approves port security bill without money for mass transit
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congress passed a $3.4 billion port security bill before adjourning for recess without including a $4.5 billion authorization for mass transit, freight and rail line security, which had been included by the Senate. For the full story, click here.
Split verdict in Hurricane Rita bus case
McALLEN, Texas — James Maples, the owner of the bus that exploded and killed 23 people during the Hurricane Rita evacuation in Texas, was found not guilty of conspiring to falsify logs but was convicted of poorly maintaining his fleet and not requiring drivers to fill out vehicle inspection reports. Maples’ company, Global Limo Inc., was found guilty on all charges. For the full story, click here.
Light rail vehicle on display in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) officials arranged for a Siemens S70 light rail vehicle being shipped from Sacramento, Calif., to Charlotte, N.C., to stop in Memphis for a public viewing. MATA plans on building a $400 million light rail system that would link its downtown and midtown areas to the Memphis International Airport. For the full story click here.

A fully autonomous, 15-passenger electric shuttle manufactured by French firm NAVYA will support research and provide self-guided tours of Mcity, the university's test site for connected and automated vehicles.

The AV passenger shuttle will run a fixed-route stopping at designated stops within an office park. The pilot will begin with two vehicles — each with a customer service agent onboard for passenger questions and information.